The world could be facing a record number of new cancer cases in the next 20 years, according to the World Health Organization.

WHO predicted the number of cases will rise by 57 percent.

"The rise of cancer worldwide is a major obstacle to human development and well-being," CNN quoted Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. "These new figures and projections send a strong signal that immediate action is needed to confront this human disaster, which touches every community worldwide."

"We cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem," he warned. "More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally."

The report said about half of those projected cases of cancers could be prevented by focusing on issues like obesity, drinking and smoking, along with encouraging exercise and screening programs.